Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-08-04
The Bound Girl.

akimbo, and looked about the great
Mason Kitchen. She was nearly twen'
ty, but under.sized. She had but one
beauty-her pretty curly head. She
was Mrs. Titus Mason's bound girl
bound to work for that lady until she
was one. .and-twentv. Such were the
terms Of the contract when Janet had
been taken from the orphan asylum, a
tiny creature of ten, nine years before
and it was the hard work and scant
fare which had prevented her growing.
There she stood, looking about her
at the array Of cooking utensils, the
rows of milk pans, the pile Of wash tubs
the shelf of hat.irons, the capacions
wood. boxes.
That morning Mrs. Titus,t the author
itative, the energetic, had fallen down
the cellars stairs and broken her leg
The doctor had been called, and see it !;
Mrs. Titus had had "A nap, and then
lifted up her voice and proved herself
equal to the situation:
I'm laid up for u month. Janet
that's plain to be seen. I've done ev-
erything for you; now you must take
right hold and 60 on without me-
There'll be cooking to do and the but
ter to make more than You have done
extra. But you can do it, if You try.
You'll have to. anyway. lIayin's over
and Mr.. Dent'll be goin' home soon, SO
thatll be one less to provide for.
Janet heard in her silence. She gave
Mrs. Titus her valesian, and then went
away, and stood looking around the
kitchen.
I'll have to do everything alone:
There was such large family y, and so
much work to be done, no wonder lit
tie Janet shrank: but she never thought
of shrinking. With breakfast at five
o'clock, and supper.dlshes to be wash.
ell at eight, she had always had enough
to DO but to undertake all the active
duties which Mrs. Titus had been &C
customc,l to perform, was almost ap-
ralling.
Janet stood thinking how 1t was to
be done. She was such little thing
1t took so many Of her armiuls to fill
the wood. boxes with hard and soft
wood. She must needs stand on a box
to work at the tubs ON the wash bench ;
and her arms grew so tired at churn-
ing. She had been trained to great
capability, but was not strong enough.
But there was no time for reflection
There was supper to get for the four
arm-hands, Mrs. Titus cruel to make
and carry up, the milk to strain, the
dishes to wash, the wOod.bo1es to till,
and sponge to be set for bread.
Janet rushed for pail of water.
Mr.. Dent was at the we'll.
Mr.. Miles Dent was the summer
boarder. He had bought mill privl-
lege of Mrs. Titus and was building a
mill.
He was a handsome. very pleasant
man-as perfectly healthy people are
apt to be, aud he was very large and
strong. In age he might have been
thirty, or thereabouts.
: Very old indeed, Janet had always
been little afraid Of him, his manners
were so nice, and he had such nice
books in his room.
Whether he was aware of her exls-
tance or not, she was not quite sure.
But he seemed to see the hurrying,
anxious little creature now,-for, say
ing MY arms are the strongest, he
took the pail filled it carried it into the
kitchen.
Have your hands full. haven't you,
little onc:' he said pleasantly, glanc-
ing about him. Your shoulders hard
ly look strong enough for all this bak-
ing and brewing
Janet smiled shyly-pleased, sur.
prised; but she was too abashed to more
than murmur some faint response, Mr..
Dent went away.
But she felt cheered by the friendly
words Of the big, brown.bearded man !;
and though Mrs. Titus soolded ber be-
cause the Cruel hadn't milk enough, and
she was oblige togo up and down stairs
three times before the lady was served
she laid her head upon her pillow more
lightly than usual-all for one kind
word. Poor little Janet.
But evil days were too surely at
hand.